Is this telephoto any good???

Seanex · 02-07-2011, 02:27 PM

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Hi all, as mentioned in my last post i am looking for a zoom lens for distance nature shots. I am only a beginner so show winning shots are not essential. This is what ive found:-

Falcon 500mm ST Preset Telephoto Lens
f/8.0
for Pentax K
Falcon 500mm ST Preset is an amazing telephoto lens designed for photographing long range objects. The amazing power of this lens gives you the equivalent of looking through a pair of 10x power binoculars. Great for nature and astro- photography

SPECIFICATION:
- Focal Length: 500mm
- Aperture: f/8.0 - f/32.0
- Focus: manual
- View angle: 5º
- Filter size: 67mm
- Lens Construction: 4 elements in 4 groups, multicoated
- Length: 298mm
- Front Diameter: 70mm
- Weight: 640g
- Casing: metal
- Accessories: T-mount adapter for Pentax K / Samsung, pouch, lens caps, user manual

Many thanks for your help again for a newbie to the hobby

Sean

SOldBear · 02-07-2011, 02:42 PM

Like this?

Whether the lens is "any good" is very subjective. But I have a similar one (Mamiya 400mm F/6.3 M42 mount, probably made from the same factory). I'd say save your money toward a real lens.

**blackcloudbrew** · 02-07-2011, 02:46 PM

I'm not familiar with this specific lens. Did a quick web search. Consensus is that while better than a mirror lens, it's cheap quality, and is not apt to be worth the expense. With lenses you get what you pay for 99% of the time. I'd keep looking.

Seanex · 02-07-2011, 03:01 PM

Ok why is that your opinion, thanks for getting back quick, just trying to understand lenses before I fork out on one. Had a look at a 115-300mm lens today and the zoom isnt good enough so thinking I need to go longer.

What would the reasons that this lense is no good please

cheers

sean

Ira · 02-07-2011, 03:23 PM

Make sure you really need something that long, and if you do, you get what you pay for

I'm way past focal length envy...the desire for the longest stuff out there because it's cool and you feel like James Bond...but not only don't many people ever use these long lengths, but the results on the budget stuff aren't spectacular.

Acceptable, maybe. But you have to pay out big shekels for the quality stuff.

twitch · 02-07-2011, 03:29 PM

No, it is not any good at all, it's junk.

You'd be far far better off with a DA 55-300 and cropping to 500.

Mike Cash · 02-07-2011, 03:32 PM

The descriptive prose should be enough to tell you it is a piece of crap aimed at unsuspecting beginners.

SOldBear · 02-07-2011, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by Seanex

What would the reasons that this lense is no good please

Frankly, I don't remember the specifics. About 2 years ago, I got the 400mm F/6.3 as part of a package deal. I tried it a few times and found that the image quality was no better than that of my Tamron 18-250mm at 250mm cropped (and the Tamron is not at its best at 250mm). I put the 400mm away and forgot about it until today.

**boriscleto** · 02-07-2011, 03:54 PM

If you want length on a budget you aren't going to do any better than an older mirror lens like the Tamron Adaptall SP 500mm f/8 (55BB)

Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 500mm f/8 (mirror) (55BB) Lens Reviews - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database

Otherwise look into a telescope with a T-mount like the Celestron C90.

Seanex · 02-07-2011, 04:33 PM

Ok so Im a little lost in what would be best for me on a budget. Im moving to Australia in 4 weeks and crocs and snakes will be my prime quarry. So fairly still animals at distance, but still needs to be at distance for saftey sake. I have a k-x so what would be an ok starter zoom lens

**boriscleto** · 02-07-2011, 04:43 PM

The best place to start on this site would be the 300mm plus lens club and the Mirror lens club.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/55946-300mm-plus-lens-club-dis...ng-lenses.html

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/71775-mirror-lens-club.html

Your main problem is trying to find a long lens on a budget. A 300mm lens can shoot at 50ft what a 600mm lens would shoot at 100 feet. The 300mm lens would cost ~$300 but the 600mm would cost ~$3000. The only way around this cost at longer focal lengths is to use a mirror lens or a telescope. Some members have gotten good results both.

Vivitar made a 100-500mm f/5-8 that can be found for less than $200.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/Vivitar-Series-1-100-500mm-F5.6-8-for-Pentax.html

Sigma made a 400mm that can be found for less than $300.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/Sigma-APO-400mm-F5.6-Tele-Macro-AF-for-Pentax.html

Tokina made a 400mm that can be found for less than $500.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/Tokina-400mm-F5.6-ATX-AF-for-Pentax.html

JeffJS · 02-07-2011, 04:51 PM

That looks just like my Spiratone Sharpshooter, a lens where the image quality is mediocre at best for anything but moon shots. Even then I can get better with a good 300mm. The lens certainly is not worth $175 (looking at the link provided). From my 400mm f6.3....

If you want to spend that much, get yourself something like a Tamron Di LD 70-300.

Not a croc or gator but.. at 260mm on a K7

At 300mm and cropping the photo, it's still better than the 400-500mm telescope type lens.

Nomad · 02-07-2011, 05:15 PM

Originally posted by Seanex

Ok so Im a little lost in what would be best for me on a budget. Im moving to Australia in 4 weeks and crocs and snakes will be my prime quarry. So fairly still animals at distance, but still needs to be at distance for saftey sake. I have a k-x so what would be an ok starter zoom lens

DA55-300 for sure. They are pretty cheap too at about $300 on the marketplace here. I have the metal mount that comes with a hood but I hear good things about the DA-L 55-300 too which is the budget version (about $200).

twitch · 02-07-2011, 05:16 PM

Are you pulling our leg? Shooting crocs and snakes in the wild?

You go looking for crocs in the wild and you will wind up dead, you'll need a fisheye to get your shot because crocs don't advertise their presence, you'll only see it as it charges out of the water at you from 6 feet. With snakes you will see them in the wild without getting killed, but you will not see them when they are more than 10 feet away, and that's if your lucky. Usually you'll only see them as you are about to step on them. Again, no need for long lenses.

Realistically you will see snakes and crocs only in zoos and wildlife parks, and a 300mm is usually plenty in those places.

Ira · 02-07-2011, 05:40 PM

Originally posted by twitch

With snakes you will see them in the wild without getting killed, but you will not see them when they are more than 10 feet away, and that's if your lucky. Usually you'll only see them as you are about to step on them. Again, no need for long lenses.

Realistically you will see snakes and crocs only in zoos and wildlife parks, and a 300mm is usually plenty in those places.

This is the whole thing in a nutshell:

Weaning yourself away from focal-envy.

You simply don't need the super long stuff for most wildlife work, and not only don't you WANT it anyway, you'll get better shots with quality shorter lenses and cropping. Not the long and cheap gimmick glass.

Especially with the high resolution of today's cams.

I don't shoot wildlife--too wild for me--and I have a very decent Vivitar 400 5.6. But I have no desire to shoot the thing because I know I'm going to have to lower my expectations.

I guess if I shot wildlife, I might feel differently.

02-07-2011, 02:27 PM	#1
Seanex Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: North Wales Posts: 5	Is this telephoto any good??? Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Hi all, as mentioned in my last post i am looking for a zoom lens for distance nature shots. I am only a beginner so show winning shots are not essential. This is what ive found:- Falcon 500mm ST Preset Telephoto Lens f/8.0 for Pentax K Falcon 500mm ST Preset is an amazing telephoto lens designed for photographing long range objects. The amazing power of this lens gives you the equivalent of looking through a pair of 10x power binoculars. Great for nature and astro- photography SPECIFICATION: - Focal Length: 500mm - Aperture: f/8.0 - f/32.0 - Focus: manual - View angle: 5º - Filter size: 67mm - Lens Construction: 4 elements in 4 groups, multicoated - Length: 298mm - Front Diameter: 70mm - Weight: 640g - Casing: metal - Accessories: T-mount adapter for Pentax K / Samsung, pouch, lens caps, user manual Many thanks for your help again for a newbie to the hobby Sean

02-07-2011, 02:42 PM	#2
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Like this? Whether the lens is "any good" is very subjective. But I have a similar one (Mamiya 400mm F/6.3 M42 mount, probably made from the same factory). I'd say save your money toward a real lens. Last edited by SOldBear; 02-07-2011 at 02:56 PM.

02-07-2011, 03:23 PM	#5
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Make sure you really need something that long, and if you do, you get what you pay for I'm way past focal length envy...the desire for the longest stuff out there because it's cool and you feel like James Bond...but not only don't many people ever use these long lengths, but the results on the budget stuff aren't spectacular. Acceptable, maybe. But you have to pay out big shekels for the quality stuff. Last edited by Ira; 02-07-2011 at 05:32 PM.

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02-07-2011, 02:46 PM	#3
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,460	I'm not familiar with this specific lens. Did a quick web search. Consensus is that while better than a mirror lens, it's cheap quality, and is not apt to be worth the expense. With lenses you get what you pay for 99% of the time. I'd keep looking.

02-07-2011, 03:01 PM	#4
Seanex Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: North Wales Posts: 5 Original Poster	Ok why is that your opinion, thanks for getting back quick, just trying to understand lenses before I fork out on one. Had a look at a 115-300mm lens today and the zoom isnt good enough so thinking I need to go longer. What would the reasons that this lense is no good please cheers sean

02-07-2011, 03:29 PM	#6
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	No, it is not any good at all, it's junk. You'd be far far better off with a DA 55-300 and cropping to 500.

02-07-2011, 03:32 PM	#7
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	The descriptive prose should be enough to tell you it is a piece of crap aimed at unsuspecting beginners.

02-07-2011, 03:35 PM	#8
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Originally posted by Seanex What would the reasons that this lense is no good please Frankly, I don't remember the specifics. About 2 years ago, I got the 400mm F/6.3 as part of a package deal. I tried it a few times and found that the image quality was no better than that of my Tamron 18-250mm at 250mm cropped (and the Tamron is not at its best at 250mm). I put the 400mm away and forgot about it until today.

02-07-2011, 03:54 PM	#9
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	If you want length on a budget you aren't going to do any better than an older mirror lens like the Tamron Adaptall SP 500mm f/8 (55BB) Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 500mm f/8 (mirror) (55BB) Lens Reviews - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database Otherwise look into a telescope with a T-mount like the Celestron C90.

02-07-2011, 04:33 PM	#10
Seanex Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: North Wales Posts: 5 Original Poster	Ok so Im a little lost in what would be best for me on a budget. Im moving to Australia in 4 weeks and crocs and snakes will be my prime quarry. So fairly still animals at distance, but still needs to be at distance for saftey sake. I have a k-x so what would be an ok starter zoom lens

02-07-2011, 04:43 PM	#11
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	The best place to start on this site would be the 300mm plus lens club and the Mirror lens club. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/55946-300mm-plus-lens-club-dis...ng-lenses.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/71775-mirror-lens-club.html Your main problem is trying to find a long lens on a budget. A 300mm lens can shoot at 50ft what a 600mm lens would shoot at 100 feet. The 300mm lens would cost ~$300 but the 600mm would cost ~$3000. The only way around this cost at longer focal lengths is to use a mirror lens or a telescope. Some members have gotten good results both. Vivitar made a 100-500mm f/5-8 that can be found for less than $200. https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/Vivitar-Series-1-100-500mm-F5.6-8-for-Pentax.html Sigma made a 400mm that can be found for less than $300. https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/Sigma-APO-400mm-F5.6-Tele-Macro-AF-for-Pentax.html Tokina made a 400mm that can be found for less than $500. https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/Tokina-400mm-F5.6-ATX-AF-for-Pentax.html

02-07-2011, 04:51 PM	#12
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	That looks just like my Spiratone Sharpshooter, a lens where the image quality is mediocre at best for anything but moon shots. Even then I can get better with a good 300mm. The lens certainly is not worth $175 (looking at the link provided). From my 400mm f6.3.... If you want to spend that much, get yourself something like a Tamron Di LD 70-300. Not a croc or gator but.. at 260mm on a K7 At 300mm and cropping the photo, it's still better than the 400-500mm telescope type lens.

02-07-2011, 05:15 PM	#13
Nomad Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 408	Originally posted by Seanex Ok so Im a little lost in what would be best for me on a budget. Im moving to Australia in 4 weeks and crocs and snakes will be my prime quarry. So fairly still animals at distance, but still needs to be at distance for saftey sake. I have a k-x so what would be an ok starter zoom lens DA55-300 for sure. They are pretty cheap too at about $300 on the marketplace here. I have the metal mount that comes with a hood but I hear good things about the DA-L 55-300 too which is the budget version (about $200).

02-07-2011, 05:16 PM	#14
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Are you pulling our leg? Shooting crocs and snakes in the wild? You go looking for crocs in the wild and you will wind up dead, you'll need a fisheye to get your shot because crocs don't advertise their presence, you'll only see it as it charges out of the water at you from 6 feet. With snakes you will see them in the wild without getting killed, but you will not see them when they are more than 10 feet away, and that's if your lucky. Usually you'll only see them as you are about to step on them. Again, no need for long lenses. Realistically you will see snakes and crocs only in zoos and wildlife parks, and a 300mm is usually plenty in those places.

02-07-2011, 05:40 PM	#15
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by twitch With snakes you will see them in the wild without getting killed, but you will not see them when they are more than 10 feet away, and that's if your lucky. Usually you'll only see them as you are about to step on them. Again, no need for long lenses. Realistically you will see snakes and crocs only in zoos and wildlife parks, and a 300mm is usually plenty in those places. This is the whole thing in a nutshell: Weaning yourself away from focal-envy. You simply don't need the super long stuff for most wildlife work, and not only don't you WANT it anyway, you'll get better shots with quality shorter lenses and cropping. Not the long and cheap gimmick glass. Especially with the high resolution of today's cams. I don't shoot wildlife--too wild for me--and I have a very decent Vivitar 400 5.6. But I have no desire to shoot the thing because I know I'm going to have to lower my expectations. I guess if I shot wildlife, I might feel differently.